IIK Staff Reporter

Monday, September 25, 2017

Kuwait's national carrier Kuwait Airways informed its desire to increase the number of seats to Indian from its current weekly seat of 12,000 to 90,000 per week. However sources pointed that the prevailing civil aviation policy doesn’t allow the unidirectional seat increase from Kuwait to India.

During the visit of India's external affairs minister Sri M J Akbar to Kuwait, Kuwaiti authorities proposed to increase the seat allocation to 7 times that of the current weekly seats from Kuwait to India by its national carrier. However the Indian side informed that as per the Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, which lays down guidelines related to bilateral traffic rights, seats can only be increased once the utilization of Indian carriers touches the level of 80% of the allocated seats. Currently Indian carriers are using less than 30% of the 12,000 seats which Kuwait carrier is using per week.

Considering that approximately 1 million Indian expatriates in Kuwait, current seat allocation of 12,000 seats per week needs to be increased substantially to serve the Indian community in Kuwait, Kuwait authorities informed. A further discussion will be held between the civil aviation authorities of both sides at the earliest to discuss the Kuwaiti proposal and other operational matters, sources told IndiansinKuwait.com.

Since the distance between India and Kuwait is less than 5000 km, the Open sky policy will not be applicable and the bilateral seat sharing between both the countries will be as per the Civil Aviation Policy 2016. According to this policy, for countries within 5000 km radius, where the Indian carriers have not utilized 80% of their capacity entitlements but foreign carriers /countries have utilized their bilateral rights, a method will be recommended by a Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for the allotment of additional capacity entitlements. Whenever designated carriers of India have utilized 80% their capacity entitlements, the same will be renegotiated in the usual manner. However, the Indian carriers are using only 30% of the current allocation of 12,000 seats between India and Kuwait. The outbound connectivity to various US and UK destinations helps the Kuwaiti carrier to increase the service to India.

Meanwhile Indian Carrier Go Air and Indigo had already given permission to start their service to Kuwait from Indian cities. Both the airlines are expected to start their service in the coming winter schedule.

Express your comment on this article

JacobPosted on
Thursday, September 28, 2017

Quota business is run by our Jetairways an Air India to loot us.We are helpless in this situation. Who care about expatriates, they only want to loot us in whatever possible way. Running Near end of life aircraft, zero services, and costliest airfares.

Syed Posted on
Wednesday, September 27, 2017

None of the comments blame the Indian govt. Hey guys, it is the Indian govt. that is sleeping and stop blaming KWT airways.

IndianPosted on
Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Request Kuwait airways to start a direct flight to Hyderabad.

There are lot of expats living in Kuwait who are using Hyderabad airport. People have to travel via Dubai / AbuDhabi / Doha / Muscat etc, which is not a convenient option. (Air India flies to Hyderabad but not on all week days).

I hope that Kuwait Airways will look into this request and start a direct flight from Kuwait to Hyderabad, India.

Abdul Naser KhanIndian

peterPosted on
Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Kuwait Airways should have a flight to Goa / GOI.If not a direct flight can be an extension of the daily Mumbai flight

AaronPosted on
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Do you know that Kuwait Airways has played a monopoly, by offering no other flights to have direct flight to 90% Indian destinations??That is how they operate. And they blame the "India’s Civil Aviation Policy" ?????!!!!

vasuPosted on
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

what about Hyderabad there is no Kuwait Airways flight.

sureshPosted on
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Right now there is no Kuwait airways flights to calicut. It will be more convenient for people from malabar area.

ScorpioPosted on
Monday, September 25, 2017

The new KU planes are among the best I have traveled in. Timings are also great. Compared to the heap of trash AI, the airline left me in a different airport and asked the passenger's to take taxi, wasting one full day.Everywhere protectionism, be it banning low cost imports or air travel. government only wants to win elections not serve the people.

Augustine Daniel DsouzaPosted on
Monday, September 25, 2017

Kuwait Airways is the best airlines for all states of India.

Stepehen Posted on
Monday, September 25, 2017

Madurai is the best place to start the kuwait airways service, very good potential area.

IndianPosted on
Monday, September 25, 2017

India civil aviation want us to fly bankrupt air india to complete 80% quota...what a joke....

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